Selectable index



Nov. 28, 1950 J. F. THULL 2,532,129

SELECTABLE INDEX Filed Jan. 2, 1947 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2..

25 4o 4 l 38 37 35 3 4| 3 I B 36 34 24 I A 33 4 I A n {32' 43 I 10 16 -nz H9 1 39 1e 23 15' l kW 22 2e 4 INVENTOR JOHN F. THULL ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1950 J. F. THULL SELECTABLE INDEX 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan." 2, 1947 FIG.

INVENTOR JOHN F. THULL ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1950 J. F. THULL 2,532,129

SELECTABLE INDEX Filed Jan. 2, 1947 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 V INVENTOR JOHN F. THULL ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1950 J. F. THULL 2,532,129

ed Jan. 2, 1947 FIG. 9.

Patented Nov. 28, 1950 .SIA'IIETS PATENT: OFFICE SELECTABLEWND'EX" J ohn F.*TI1'ull, MinneapolissMinm; assignor to Brown:&iBigelow, St.-Paul-, 'Minn.

My "invention relates to. an improvement ina hinged sheet index parti'cularly adaptable for names and telephone numbers or any other data tQLWhlCh' frequent reference is made.

It is. anLobject of. my invention to provide. 5" an. index: which" is. extremely simple. to operate having. alphabetical data sheets with. alphabet-r ized. 'tabsthereon wherebya selection of a sheet. maybe made by,depressing.a selected tahwith. the finger.

In old' forms of indexes similar to my invention the rear portion of the -.body .ofthe index moves, upwardly or rocksona basees these. lection is'.,.madel. This movementis undesirahlel as it resultsiri a less efficient and rough operat- 15 ing index. In .addition,.-many old. forms of in de xesrequir'etwo distinct operations tomake-a selection of. an alphabetical. sheet.

It is a primary featureof-.my-inventionqto" providelan .index whereby whenacselected alphabetical tab is depressed .forselection of an indexed sheen-the index i unit, composed principally oftabsand sheets, moves andaoperatessimply and. smoothly withinsthe. body of theindex by means otmynewhingeandresiliently. mountedroller combination. As: a result, the: body .01 my-unit remainsnstationaryl Asla .furtherrlpri-maryfeature of my invention: I provide anhindexvwhich. has a..removable index", unit. composed primarily of. alphabetized sheets; tabs,:.and.selecting, and retaining mechanism; which unit may be-easily removedfromtheabodye of .theindex either foimreplacement or repainr It is :aiurther feature of my invention-to pro-: vide. an index whereby a selection Ol'rIGj action: of".- alphabetized sheetsmaybe made innassimplei single l operation 1 by slight pressure or release-10ft pressurexon an alphabetical tab providedii.

An..additional object is: to provide a bodyrorc 4U casing which encloses the. indexunit. including: means for separating-;-:the, indexed-rv sheets: con:--- sisting of a puller belt attached tonthe under side of the lowermost sheet and the topziside of thee-uppermost sheet and positioned: around "a 45 portion:.of= a roller suitably located towallow positiveiand smooth separation of theshee'ts;

I'iurther provide an index wherebythe alphas. beticalasheet's are" not exposed when the device is;notin:operation:v 5o

'Iher details and features will be mOIHB e y and- .fully" hereinaiterset? forth together: with? other objects: of :my invention;

Im the drawings :"Iorming-aepart off this rspecie' Figured isa perspective view of my index.

Figure 2218-2. sectional view on the line. 2"+2 of Figure 1.

Figure .-3 is a:-sectional view on vtheuline -3-3 of Figure -2. I

Figure 4 is a sectional view. on the line 4--4 of= Figure 2.

Fignre' ii- -is an enlarged detail of a portion of my'index'siinilar to'one end of the section shown in 'Figure 2."-

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure Bin the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is -aperspective viewof the index unit removedf-rom the supporting- 'base:

Figure 8 is a-plan viewer-the bottom of mydevice.

Figure 9-'is a section showing-someof thein' dexed leaves elevated.

Figure 10 is a perspectivewiew' of the index opened. to :a place ofreference Asshown in the d1awings;-I "provide'an indexbase'Awhi'chis adapted toreceive index unit B for'operationz' The "index body A maybe formed of metal 01: plastic or any suitable mate'- rial. As a part of unit B I provide a fiat plate I0 provided; with across bar ll extending across the full. Width offthe underside of J plate I0 adapted .to be positioned on fulcrum. 12.. Fullcrum. l2lislformed inside the body Aiupon the bottom [2. of. the. index baseA and extends transversely across. the width .oibottom l2".

Theeforwardsportionl ofsplate l!) .is. an. elon: gatedzlip. l3. .positionedht0.contact the underside of: portion .HLof the. body Acwhensthe index. is not depresseds Onieachzendacf lipl3 is an ear. [5 which is bent into the dotted line position. shown inFigureF? after the-insertion-of; unit B into: thebody A;

Earrlli-isbent so that it willifit into recess l5- thereby V preventing r plate Ill. from. slipping rearwardly The groove I6 also=holdsithe-unit B fromtslippinglongitudinally; Platedfl: isv pro vided with. longitudinal side portions-i 'i in-w-hichz are constructed grooves it adapted-"to be-'pos-i-.- tioned on fulcrum .I 2,: .thesbottomw of the groove lBt-acting as a fulcrum point together with cross bar. H.

The'angle member i8 is formedzas apart' of' plate Hl not to-exceed in' length the width of plated). The-'lower'edgeof: member 'l8 rests. ontherbottom'; !2 of they base'A coincidental withrthediparl Sien'gaging under portion: 14 when: the'device iSillOll depressed, maintaining the :plate: I fldnsaslevel -.position':

A bottom sheet l9 whose area is approximately that of the top of plate I is securely fastened to the top of plate [0. Portion of sheet [9 is used as a tab adapted to receive letters of the alphabet to indicate data thereon, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 10. Portion 20 is the only part of sheet 19 which is exposed when the device is not in use. When tab 20 is depressed, the entire sheet 19 is exposed as hereinafter set forth.

Under the inner end of sheet I 9 adjacent angle member I8 is secured the lower end 2| of puller belt 22. Puller belt 22 may be of any width, but the preferred width is the width of plate Ill. Belt 22 is positioned around a portion of roller 23, and the upper end is secured between the top cover 24 and inner end of sheet 25. Roller 23 rotates on the shaft ends 26 of the shaft 43.

I provide two inner walls 2! positioned in the rear portion of index body A constructed with openings 28. Springs 29 are provided on either end of roller 23 and the openings 23 are adapted to receive the cars 33 of springs 29. The springs 29 are removably positioned and secured with ears 30 against the forward portion of opening 28 and ends 3| positioned under shaft ends 26. The tension of springs 29 holds shaft ends 26 against shoulder points 32 located in openings 28 of walls 27 allowing roller 23 to rotate against shoulder points 32 when the unit is not depressed to any extent.

When the index is not depressed for use, the shaft ends 26 of roller 23, are positioned close to shoulders 32 under the spring tension of springs 29. plate l0 moves upwardly and the sheets are opened out fiat so that they may be written upon, the shaft ends 26 move on the upper edge of openings 28 toward shoulders 32'. When the sheets are completely separated to the fullest extent, the shaft ends 26 are positioned adjacent to shoulders 32'. The movability of roller 23 is necessary for smooth operation of the unit B and gives a taut puller belt 22 at all times. This movement of the roller 23 and belt 22 is of primary importance as it permits the separation of the sheets selectively with the smallest possible amount of movement of the fulcrumed plate It at the front and giving a relatively greater movement of the rear of the fulcrumed plate which gives a strong pull on the belt 22 to raise the sheets. The result of the foregoing provides an index whereby the base A remains entirely stationary and without movement. The unit index operates within the base and normally rests within a, pocket formed within the top of the base.

A multiple expansive hinge or binding 33 is made up of a series of folds 42 extending across the width of the metal plate Ill adapted to receive the innermost ends of sheets I9, 34, 35, 36, 31, 38 and 25, in the folds thereof. Each sheet is glued into the folds 42 of the hinge 33 on the top marginal inner end of each sheet. This permits a limited rearward spacing of the sheets when the series of sheets is hingedly opened. At their front edge each sheet is cut away in increasing widths as shown in Figures 1 and 7 to expose a portion of the sheet below, which exposed portion is used as a tab and provided with letters of the alphabet to indicate data thereon. The tabs are alphabetized as illustrated in Figures 1 and 10 and are rounded to facilitate separation of the sheets. The sheets are cut from relatively stifi material to facilitate'separation.

As a tab is depressed and the inner end of The hinge 33 ma be made of fabric or any suitable material and need not be a continuous piece.

The lower end 39 of hinge 33 is secured to plate H] by being fastened on the top end 2| of puller 5 belt 22 which is fastened to plate 10 as hereinbefore set forth. The upper end of hinge 33 is secured between the upper end 40 of puller belt 22 and end of sheet 25.

Portion 4| of base A terminates at a point whereby a sheet or sheets and top cover 24 are limited in movement beyond a substantially vertical position.

A varying number of sheets may be employed in my device. On a front portion of each sheet is an exposed tax similar to tab 23 upon which letters of the alphabet are printed to indicate alphabetized data on the particular sheet.

My device is operated by depressing a selected tab. As a tab is pressed downward the forward portion of the plate I B is adapted to move downward, and simultaneously the rear portion of plate In moves upwardly, bar ll acting on fulcrum l2. The rear end of plate IE! pushes upward on the overlying sheets as a tab is depressed. As the rear portion of plate Ill moves upwardly the puller belt 22 is pulled in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2 against roller 23 thereby drawing into a substantially vertical position all sheets above the sheet selected, as illustrated in Figure 9. The separated sheets are returned to their former positions by releasing pressure on the tab. When the selected sheets are elevated, as illustrated in Figure 9, the hinge 33 assumes the position shown therein. The underside of a raised sheet provides a space for conforming to alphabetical data on the tab depressed such as A, B, C, etc., as illustrated in Figure 10. The information on the underside of a sheet is viewed with the sheet in substantially a vertical position.

It will be apparent that my removable index unit B is composed of plate 13, side member li, cross bar ll, lip l3, ears !5, angle member It, a series of sheets with tabs secured to the folds 42 of the hinge 33, a puller belt 22, roller 23, shaft 43, shaft ends 26, and cover 24. It will thus be seen that the index unit B when properly positioned and secured in body A will operate within the body so to speak. The body does not move. In addition, by removing the springs 29 and re-- storing the ears l5 to the solid line indicated in Figure '7 the index unit B may be removed for adjustment, repair, or replacement.

The top surface of a sheet may be inscribed after it is in a selected position. The underside of a sheet is inscribed by selecting it as hereinbefore set forth and lifting its inner end slightly from the base so that the sheet opens out flat to aid in writing upon it. Also, the 60 sheets may be more easily inscribed by removing the index unit as described whereupon the sheets can be laid out flat so that they can be easily written upon.

I claim:

1. A hinged index comprising a base, a fulcrum positioned transversely on the inner surface of the bottom of said base, a plate adapted to be positioned on said fulcrum, means to limit the movement of said plate on said fulcrum, a 70 series of indexed sheets positioned one upon the other on said plate, an exposed portion on the front portion of each of said sheets forming tabs,

a cover for said sheets, a hinge consisting of a series of folds fastened to the rear end of said.

plate and to said cover for said sheets, theinner ends of said sheets fastened into said folds of said hinge, a puller belt fastened to the inner end of said plate and the inner end of said cover, an idle roller over which said belt is adapted to extend, whereby when a tab of one of said sheets is depressed, said sheets are hingedly divided exposing the selected sheets.

2. A hinged sheet index comprising a removable unit of stacked sheets including a multiple hinge to which said sheets are attached at their inner edge, a front portion of each sheet cut away in successively increasing widths to provide tabs thereon, a cover sheet attached to the uppermost of said sheets and the upper end of said hinge, a puller belt attached to said cover and the bottommost of said sheets, a base for supportin said unit, said bottommost sheet fastened to a plate fulcrumed within said base, a roller around which said belt extends, means for removably positioning said unit in said base, whereby when said roller is removed, said unit may be removed from said base.

3. A hinged index including a series of sheets positioned one upon the other, a base, fulcrumed means for supporting said sheets in said base,

a multiple hinge adapted to receive the inner ends of said sheets, said sheets indexed on an exposed portion of each of said sheets, a puller belt, one end of said puller belt attached to the inner end of the uppermost sheet, the opposite end of said puller belt attached to the inner end of the lowermost sheet of said series of sheets, a roller, said puller belt positioned around a portion of said roller, shaft ends protruding from the ends of said roller, inner walls positioned in the rear portion of said base, openings in said inner walls adapted to receive said shaft ends, springs adapted to position said shaft ends in said openings in said wall whereby when said fulcrumed means is operated said sheets are separated.

4. A hinged sheet index including a base, a fulcrum secured to the inside of the bottom of said base, said fulcrum being positioned closer to the forward portion of said base than the rear thereof, a plate adapted to rock on said fulcrum, a series of sheets positioned as a unit one upon the other on said plate, a multiple folding hinge connecting the inner ends of said sheets, a cover for said sheets, a puller belt, one end of said puller belt fastened to said cover and the other end of said puller belt to said plate, a roller, said puller belt extendin around said roller, shaft ends protruding from each end of said roller, inner walls positioned in the rear portion of said base, openings in said walls adapted to receive and position said shaft ends, spring means adapted to permit the axis of said roller to change position during the selective operation of said sheets to expose the selected sheets at will.

5. A hinged sheet index comprising a base, a series of sheets positioned within said base, a puller belt fastened to the uppermost of said sheets and the lowermost of said sheets, a roller resiliently positioned in said base around which said puller belt is extended, a plate fulcrumed within said base, said sheets secured to said plate, tabs provided on the free ends of said sheets, whereby when one of said tabs is depressed the sheets above the tab are elevated.

6. A base, a plate fulcrumed within said base, a series of hinged sheets secured to the top of said plate, a hinge secured to the inner end of each of said top sheets, a puller belt fastened to the inner end of the top and bottommost sheet, a roller, resilient means for positioning said roller to hold the same taut against said puller belt, a portion of each of said sheets exposed to form a, tab therefor, whereby when one of said tabs is depressed the inner end of said plate elevates pulling said puller with it to separate said sheets, said base remaining stationary.

'7. A hinged sheet index including a stack of sheets, said sheets connected at their inner end by an expansive hinge, the bottom of said sheets secured to a plate, said plate fulcrumed within a base, means for limiting the movement of said plate, a puller belt fastened to the inner end of said plate and to the inner end of the top of said sheets, a roller resiliently positioned within the rear of said base, said puller belt extended around said roller, means for raising said inner end of said plate to draw said puller belt around said roller thereby pulling said sheets into a substantially vertical position.

JOHN F. THULL.

REFERENCES CITED Date Lewis Jan. 18, 1938 

